What is an accretionary wedge?
A)Deformed and thrust-faulted continental lithosphere
B)A fan of sediments at the bottom of a deep-ocean trench
C)Sediments and ocean crust fragments being scraped off of a subducting plate
D)Fault blocks that are slipping down due to extension in a back-arc basin

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An accretionary wedge is formed at subduction zones, where the oceanic lithosphere is being subducted. As it subducts, sediments and fragments of oceanic crust are scraped off and accumulate in a wedge-shaped mass in front of the overriding plate. This process results in the accretionary wedge, which is essentially a pile of sediment and oceanic crust fragments that have been scraped off of the subducting plate.

What Is an Accretionary Wedge